Larry the cat welcomes its sixth British Prime Minister

Larry didn’t seem to care much that Britain woke up on Friday morning to a change of power. As Rishi Sunak prepared to step down as Prime Minister, and Keir Starmer prepared to step in, Larry prowled around outside the Prime Minister’s residence in peace and quiet.

Larry the cat has lived in 10 Downing Street since 2011, when he was adopted from the animal shelter near the then Prime Minister David Cameron.

Larry was appointed the government’s chief mousecatcher, a job he does when it suits him.

Steals the attention

Since then, he has been a regular feature in news broadcasts from the prime minister’s residence. Every now and then he appears in the background of the TV broadcasts – and steals the attention, the journalists are to be believed.

– When we stand in Downing Street and go live, we are always very aware that if he appears behind you, many will no longer follow what you say, says the BBC’s political correspondent Helen Catt.

Since Cameron’s days, Larry has lived with Prime Ministers Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, all from the Conservative Party.

Since Sunak moved in, Larry has also had to share the prime minister’s residence with the dog Nova – who he is probably happy to have moved out on Friday. According to Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murty, Larry and Nova have had some “heated discussions”.

New cat

Larry’s new roommate, Keir Starmer from Labour, also moves in with a furry family member – Jojo. This time it’s another cat Larry has to learn to live with.

But he has to take that as it comes. Unfazed by reporters, photographers, onlookers and the prospect of yet another moving load heading into his house, life went on as usual for Larry on Friday morning.

He soon decided to escape the rain and wind of the London streets, and entered the Prime Minister’s residence as he always does—waiting at the door until a friendly police officer opened it for him.